Heading in youth soccer: Quantifying exposure and head injury risk in male and female U16 players

Abstract

Background: Heading is a fundamental technical skill unique to football, allowing players to deliberately use their unprotected heads to control, pass, or score. However, concerns have emerged regarding the safety of this skill, particularly for young athletes who may be more vulnerable to high-acceleration forces. This study aimed to examine the frequency, types, and characteristics of headers among youth football players under 16, assess the mechanical load associated with their execution, and investigate the occurrence of head injuries. Materials and Methods: Eighteen teams (10 male and 8 female) comprising 15- and 16-year-old athletes participated in the study. Each team was video-recorded during one randomly selected training session and one official match. The types and characteristics of headers, as well as any injuries, were documented using standardized observation forms. Results: Boys performed significantly more headers than girls during training, while no differences were found during matches. In both sexes, headers were more frequent in matches compared to training. One female team recorded 132 headers in a single training session, a frequency considered potentially concerning. Most headers were intentional, executed with the frontal part of the head, and followed short ball trajectories (<5 m), indicating sound technique and lower head acceleration. Nevertheless, a notable proportion—especially among boys—involved the parietal region of the head, suggesting suboptimal technique. Additionally, several headers occurred after long trajectories (>10 m) or from free kicks, conditions linked with higher impact magnitudes. Importantly, no head injuries were observed during either training or matches, resulting in an incidence rate of zero. Conclusions: While the majority of headers were technically appropriate and likely associated with lower forces, instances of poor technique and high-risk conditions were also evident. The absence of documented head injuries is encouraging but should not be interpreted as definitive evidence of safety. Reducing exposure to potentially high-impact headers may help protect young footballers in the long term.